Automatic drink mixer



Sept. 21 ,v 1926.

J. A, HEARD AUTOMATIC DRINK MIXER Filed Sept. 2l.

1925 2 Sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR ITIIIINIHHHHHHHIII ATTORNEYS 1f, Y I ,543.v

J A.l HEARD AUTOMATIC DRINK MIXER Fileq' sept. 2:1l

Sept. l2 1926.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Imi? INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 2l, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN ALAN HEARD, F SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

.AUTOMIATIC DRINK MIXER.

Application led September 21, 1925. Serial No. 57,516.

provided for automatically starting and stopping the agitator motor when the drink is placed in the device for mixing, and when the mixing has been completed, respectively.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described, in which means is provided for moving the drink with respect to the agitator during the l5 process of mixing, so that the agitator may operate throu hout the entire depth of the mixing cup. hus there is little possibility of anyortion of the drink .remaining unaiected the agitator. l

A furt er object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described, in which means is provided for uickly lowering the receptacle containing t e drink as the agitator nears the level of the liquid 25, therein, so as to cause the liquid to fall entirely out of contact with the agitator with sufiicient speed so as to prevent the spattering of the litjuid by the agitator operating near the surface of the liquid.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described, which is adaptable for use with the drinkcontaining receptacle filled to different'predetermined leve s. 'i

A further object of the invention 1s to provide a device of the character described, in which\ the drink-containing receptacle is of novel structure, and in which the agitator is of novel structure, the advantages l obtained thereby being a more rapid and thorough mixing' of the drink.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described, in which the time during which the drink is being mixed by the agitator may be regulated. This feature permits the' device to be adjusted for drinks of dierent densities.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and thenovel 5" features of the invention will be articular- 1y ointed out in the appended c y invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this apphcatlon, in which e Flgure 1 is a front elevation of an embodiment of my invention,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device illustrated in Figure 1, v

Figure 3 is a sectional view through a portion of the device,

Figure 4 is a sectional line 4-4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a section along the line 5--5 of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a Section along the line 6-6 of Figure 1,

Figure 7 is a plan view` of the agitator forming a part o the device, and

Figure 8 is a top plan view of the drinkcontaining receptacle.

In carrying out my invention, I make use of a base memberl having legs 2 for supporting the base upon a counter or the like.

'An uprioht hollow bracket 3 is supported upon the base 1 and serves to support an electric motor 4 at the upper end thereof,

Yview along the having its shaft-5 extendin vertically over the forward portion of the ase 1.

4 The shaft f5 has any elongatedpprtion 6.

depending axially therefrom, wh carries an agitator 7 of the saw-tooth type (see Figure 7). Thel direction of rotation of lie agitgtor is that shown by the arrow 8 in 1 re -f l vertical slideway, comprising a pair ofv spaced apa-rt parallel slide members 9, ,isy secured to the front wall of the bracket 3 by the provision of screws 10. A receptacle supporting member 11 lis slidably mounted by means of slide members 12 in the slide members 9. VThe member 11 is shaped to receive a support and receptacle 13 havin outwardly flared side walls, and is provi ed with a depending rotating finger atthe `upper end thereof for engaging with the peripheral edge of the receptacle to prevent the receptacle from tipping when upon the member 18. s

In reference to Fivure 8, it will be noted that Ithe interior waxll of the rece tacle 13 is provided with spaced-apart he ical ribs 15. These ribs are for the purpose of augmenting the a 'tation of liquid placed in the receptacle :uring the operation of the agitator 7. The eculiar disposition and structure ofthe ri s 15,1 deem 4as one of the important features of my invention.

Means for permitting the member 11 to fall slowly .when elevate/d to the position shown in igure 2 and when supporting the receptacle 13, is provided in a vertical rod 16 which is connected at the upperI end thereof most end thereof.

by means of a member 17 to the .upper end of the member 11.

The rod 16 has a plunger 18 at the lowerwhich is disposed within an air cylinder 19.

-This air cylinder 19 is closed atits lowermost end by a threaded plug 20, and is supported at 21 to the base member 1.

From an inspection of Figure 6, it will be noted that the plug` 21 has a tortuous passage 22 extending therethrough, and a needle valve 23 is projected lwithin the passage, whereby the quantity 'of air passing through the assage 22 may be regulated by turning the owermost exposed end 24 of the valve.

Thus the speed at which the member 11, carrying the receptacle 13, is lowered by virtue of gravity will be accurately determined 'by operation of the needle valve asdescribed.

A 4second passage 2 5 is provided through the plug 20, and has avalve seat 26 at the upper end thereof, which is normally closed by means of a ball 27 which seats thereupon. A lock spring 28y is disposed over the ball 27, but out of engagement therewith for preventing dislodgment of l the.ball when the device is laid upon its side or turned otherwise than from its normal upright position. v

Means for permitting the member 11 to drop suddenly with the receptacle 13,- when device for use with two predetermined qlfauthe receptacle has reached a 'predetermined position with respect to the agitator, is provided in a shoe having a pair of work-engaging portions 29 and 30, which shoe is carried by the lowermost of the members 12. The `purpose in having two work-engaging portions 29 and 30 on the shoe is to adapt the tities of liquid within the receptacle, as in the case of a drink mixed for one personor al drink mixed for two persons.

The lever 31 having a forwardly extending portion '32 is pivotally supported at 33 to the bracket 3.v The portion 32 ofthe lever is forced inwardly when the shoes 29 and 30 engage therewith. fThe opposite end of the lever 31 engages with a transversely extending portion 33* of. a rocker arm 34. The opposite end of the rocker arm 34, as-shown at 35, carries anupwardly extending ush rod 36 which rests Just beloifs7 the ball 217.

A compression spring-37 is disposed between the plug 20 and the portion 35 of the rocker larma vThus when thel lever- 31isactuated, asly by -en agement. of vthe shoes 29' vor 30 therewith, t e'rocker arm will move to peculiar sawtooth-structure of the agitator,

'force of the spring 37 to open the ball valve.

This will permit an additional egressv of air from lthe cylinder 29, and thereby cause the member 11 to be accelerated nin its desired movement. The position of the shoes when the levels of sin le and double drinks approach the a 'tator Means for c osing the circuit, including the electric motor 4when the member 11 is moved to the position shown in Figure 2, is

provided in a quick acting switch of the ordinary type, whichl is indicated at 40. This switch has a rod 41 secured thereto which, when moved vertically` in an upward direction, closes the switch, and which when moved downwardly, opens the switch. 'lfh'e 17 will engage with and elevate the plate 43 to'close the switch 40. Current will thus fiow through the switch from the supply source, indicated at 49, through the conductors 50 and 51 to the motor 4.

When -the member 11 has reached the limit of its desired journey, the member 17 will engage with the lo'wermost edge 52 of the slot 46, so as to move the plate 45 downwardly and open the switch. This-occurs after the valve 27 has been actuated to lower the receptacle with its liquid free of-the agitator. The reason for this is to permit the agitator to operate for a longer time after it is free from contact with the liquid, so that it may free itself of the liquid by centrifugal force.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, theoperation thereof may be readily understood. The liquids, ice cream Iand thelike, forming a part of the drink, are placed in the receptacle 13, and the receptacle is inserted with its upper peripheral edge beneath the finger 14, with its bottom wall upon the horizontal portion of the mei/)ober 11. The entire member 11 with the cup 13V is then moved to the position shown in Figure 2, and tothe top of the slideways 9.

At this time the `member 17 will engage with the plate 42 to elevate the plate and close the switch 40. Current will then flow -through the circuit to operate the motor 4,

` 29 and 3() is such as to actuate the ball valve together with the provision of the helical rigs 15, serves to thoroughly churn and mix the liquids and cream with one another.

The receptacle 13, by virtue of the wei ht of the liquids therein and of its own weig t,

together with the weight of the member 11,

will slowlydescend, and the piston 18 connected with the member 17 by means of the rod 16 will also lower. As the piston 18 lowers into the cylinder 19,- limited quantities of air will be expelled through the passage 22 in the lug 20, the quantlty of which is regulated y the adjustable needle v vated from-its seat by virtue of the push off the motor.

rod 25 associated therewith and with the rocker arm, thereby permitting ain additional quantity ot air to be exhausted from the cylinder 19. This egress of additional quantities of air will permit a sudden acceleration in the downward vmovement of the receptacle 13, so as to quickl lower the liquid with its upper level out o contact with the agitator. The pur ose of this sudden movement is to preclu e the spattering of hquid as the agitator 7 contacts withthe liquid at the surface.

4It will be noted that the" shoe is provided with two work engaging members 29 and 30. The member 30 will cause a similar acceleration in the downward movement of the receptacle 13, sc that ifa greater quantity of liquid than is normallyv disposed in the receptacle, as in the' instance of a double drink, is placed therein, the liquid maybe suddenly withdrawn from the agitator, as this higher level approaches a' plane in which the agitator is dis osed.

When the member 11 as been moved to the position. shown in Figure 1, the'member 17 will again engage with the plate 43 'at the lowermost end 52 of the slot in the plate. This causes. the plate to move downwardly so as to open the switch 40 and shut here is a. slight interval of time between the engagement of the work engaging' portion 30 of the shoe with the lever 31, and the engagement of the member 17 with the lowermost part 52 of the slotted plate. The purpose of this time in-` -terval is to permit the vagitator to free itself of liquid by virtue of centrifugal force.

I claim: 1.- .An automatic drink mixer of the character described, comprising adm otordriven agitator, a receptacle for holding ilu1ds, au-

tomatic means for moving the receptacle up- -on an axis 'parallel with the axis ofthe agitator, and means for accelerating the downward movement of the receptacle during its travel.

2. An automatic drink mixer of the character described comprising a power driven agitator, a liquid containing receptacle, a vertically; slidable receptacle 'supporting member, and adjustable automatic means for y moving said receptacle supporting member upon an axis parallel with the axis'of the agitator.

3. An automatic drink mixer of the character described comprising a power driven ragitator, a liquid containing receptacle, a 'vertically slidable receptacle supporting member, adjustable automatic means for moving said receptacle supporting member upon an axis parallel with the axis ofthe agitator, and other means associated with said receptacle supporting member fory accelerating the downward movement -of said supporting member during its travel'.

4. An-electric motor, including a circuitv for operating the motor, and having a shaft, an agitator carried by said shaft, a liquid containing rece tacle, a receptacle supporting member sli ably mounted for travel'upon an axis parallel with the axis o f said motor shaft, and automatic means comprising a switch connected with said motor circuit for closing the circuit when the receptacle supporting member is at the uppermost end of its travel, and for o ening the circuit when the sup orting'mem er reaches the lowermost end o its travel.

5. An electric motor, including a circuit for operating the motor, and having a shaft,

an agitator carried by said shaft, a liquid containing receptacle, a rece tacle supporting member slidably mounte for travel upon an axis parallel with the axis of said motor shaft, automatlc ,means comprising a switch connected with said motor circuit for 7. I n a device of the character described,

111g an adjustable exhaust valve.v

a liquid containing receptacle, a receptacle supporting member mounted for movement upon a vertical axis, compressed air' means for resisting the downward movement of said receptacle supporting member, said means including an adjustable exhaust valve, and other means for increasinfr the exhaust of air from said compressed alr resisting vmeans when said receptacle supporting member has reached a predetermined 10 point in its downward travel, said means comprising a normally closed valve and means arranged for engagement by said receptacle supporting member at a predetermined polnt in its travel, and connected at its opposite end with said normally closed valve, whereby the valve is opened upon enga ement of the receptacle supporting mem er therewith. v

JoHN ALAN HEARD. 

